In September 1957 the first small satellite was placed into orbit around the earth by the U.S.S.R. Since that time a very competitive situation has developed between the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. Each side has presumably used its military ballistic missiles, together with hurriedly-developed second and third stages. We are now reaching a situation in the West where more carefully prepared and optimised rocket stages are being used, with the basic I.C.B.M. and I.R.B.M. first stages. The result of this is to put larger payloads into orbit for a given launch weight. Recently, cost figures for the past^ present and future satellite launchers have been quoted.